Ode to Borax…

Oh Borax, My Borax… For quite some time now I’ve been singing the praises of Borax to my sister. Every time she mentions a problem from deodorant stains on white shirts to goopy cat eyes I reply, “Oh, Borax will work for that.” Perhaps I over-estimate the power of the product but not by much. Read on…

What is Borax: A natural mineral compound that is mined for in the United States, and elsewhere in the world. Most of what I’ve read on-line about Borax presents it as a natural and green wonder substance. However, there were enough sites urging caution with the use of this product that I would be remiss not to mention it. I urge anyone interested in picking up a box for themselves to do some independent research and decide for yourself. To get you started, you can read morehere.

Now, onto the many uses of Borax:

Best known for its cleaning abilities, Borax has been used in homes since the 1800s. Once you see all the things it can tackle, I think you’ll want to give a try in your home.

Weeds: Sprinkle Borax into the cracks of your sidewalk to prevent weeds. Be careful not to get any on your desirable plants, it will eliminate them too.

Dishwasher: Add a tablespoon of Borax to your detergent cup to eliminate water spots on your dishes/glasses.

Pots and Pans: Borax and water will clean your aluminum pots & pans.

Pest Control: A small amount of Borax mixed with powdered sugar will act as pest control. Ants, cockroaches and other creepy crawlers who eat the substance will die as a result. (Apparently, this is not because it’s a toxic substance but rather because Borax is very sharp to an insect and will damage their exoskeleton.)

Drain Cleaner: Mix Borax with boiling water to pour down a blocked drain. Grease melts away.

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Hi! Thanks for the info! With three very active kids there is a lot to clean at home. I’m gonna give it a try. Have you used it as a stain remover for clothes? My twins boys play baseball and from sliding and diving the clay gets rubbed in to their jerseys, pants, and even into the layers underneath. Was wondering if it would work?
~ingrid

Okay, I must admit because of you, Bea, I have become a Borax fan!!
In fact, the other morning I had a Borax “moment”, my love for it was overwhelming.
Anyone that has animals know that they make messes…one of which is dog drool. Dog food dishes develop a saliva scum that may be one of the worst things to clean. Borax to the rescue!! A small sprinkle of powder in the bowl, a damp rag to scrub clean, a good rinse, and …presto, sparkling bowls.
I was so thrilled that I thought I would have to call Michelle just to share!! She would have laughed at me for my excitement about cleaning something, but oh well.
Oh, and cannot wait for the craft ideas. Summer made “OObleck” in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday at school and happily informed me that since we have “the stuff in the green box” we can make it here at home. Yeah!?!

Ingrid – I use it as a laundry booster and have used it to pre-treat occasionally. I don’t know how it would work on clay but I’d certainly give it a try. Come back and tell us if you have success. It certainly can’t hurt.
– Bea

Michelle – You are a hoot! I would have made fun of you for being giddy over Borax, but only a little. : ) Now, I’m going to have to try it on the pet dishes too! You and Bea are getting me from both sides. LOL

One of the simplest ways to determine a flea drawback is to examine your pets stomach area and along the inside of the back legs. The hair is thinner in this area and easier to identify fleas. You can get rid of fleas by applying borax to your pet. It’s really effective and i tried it myself.